Paul Fader, former Englewood mayor and adviser to governors, dies at 58

Paul Fader, a former mayor of Englewood, accomplished attorney and chief counselor to New Jersey Govs. Richard J. Codey and James E. McGreevey, died Monday at the age of 58.

Fader served as mayor of Englewood from 1998 to 2003. 

Codey said he was shocked and saddened to hear of Fader's death.

"Paul was more than just a trusted adviser to me over the years — he was a friend," Codey said in a statement. "He spent countless hours in service to our state as both a mayor and as the governor's chief counsel; he was a true professional in every sense of the word. My heart goes out to his wife and children at this difficult time.”

Fader provided legal representation to the governors as chief counsel.

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The cause of Fader's death was not immediately clear Tuesday night.

The former mayor was a partner at the Florio, Perrucci, Steinhardt and Fader law firm. From 2003 to 2005, Fader served as a member of the board of directors of the New Jersey Transit Corporation, the New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation, the Capital City Redevelopment Authority, the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, according to his law firm's website.

In Englewood, he aimed to redevelop the business district and served as chairman of the Englewood Housing Authority and the Englewood Planning Board.

Fader and his wife, Jill, founded the Englewood Hospital "Walk for Awareness: Our Fight Against Breast Cancer" in 1998. In 2014, the hospital honored the couple with a gala, and he received the Touchstone Award for his service dedicated to breast cancer awareness.

They had four children: Jack, Lucas, Morgan and Sydney.

Senate President Steve Sweeney offered his condolences to Fader's family. 

"This is a terrible loss for everyone who knew or worked with Paul," Sweeney said in a statement. "He distinguished himself in politics and public service and was a true friend to so many people whose lives he touched. We are all better for having known him.”

Alicia D'Alessandro, Bergen County director of communications, posted to Twitter that Fader was a "brilliant lawyer" and "great human being."

Email: jongsma@northjersey.com